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Aims: The absence of standardized methods for quantifying faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in sand hinders comparison of results across studies. The purpose of the study was to compare methods for extraction of faecal bacteria from sands and recommend a standardized extraction technique. Methods and Results: Twenty-two methods of extracting enterococci and Escherichia coli from sand were evaluated, including multiple permutations of hand shaking, mechanical shaking, blending, sonication, number of rinses, settling time, eluant-to-sand ratio, eluant composition, prefiltration and type of decantation. Tests were performed on sands from California, Florida and Lake Michigan. Most extraction parameters did not significantly affect bacterial enumeration.anova revealed significant effects of eluant composition and blending; with both sodium metaphosphate buffer and blending producing reduced counts. Conclusions: The simplest extraction method that produced the highest FIB recoveries consisted of 2 min of hand shaking in phosphate-buffered saline or deionized water, a 30-s settling time, one-rinse step and a 10 : 1 eluant volume to sand weight ratio. This result was consistent across the sand compositions tested in this study but could vary for other sand types. Significance and Impact of the Study: Method standardization will improve the understanding of how sands affect surface water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The species identification and antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined for enterococci isolated from Southern California surface and ocean waters. Methods and Results: Species identification was determined for 1413 presumptive Enterococcus isolates from urban runoff, bay, ocean and sewage water samples. The most frequently isolated species were Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus mundtii. All five of these species were isolated from ocean and bay water with a frequency ranging from 7% to 36%. Enterococcus casseliflavus was the most frequently isolated species in urban runoff making up 36–65% of isolates while E. faecium was the most frequently isolated species in sewage making up 53–78% of isolates. The similar distribution of species in urban runoff and receiving water suggests that urban runoff may be the source of Enterococcus. No vancomycin or high level gentamycin resistance was detected in E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates. Conclusions: Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, E. casseliflavus and E. mundtii are the most commonly isolated Enterococcus species from urban runoff and receiving waters in Southern California. Significance and Impact of the Study: Determination of the Enterococcus species isolated from receiving waters and potential pollution sources may assist in determining the sources of pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To compare accuracy of genus and species level identification of presumptive enterococci isolates from the marine environment using conventional biochemical testing, four commercial identification systems and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Methods and Results: Ninety-seven environmental bacterial isolates identified as presumptive enterococci on mEI media were tested using conventional and Enterococcus genus screen biochemical tests, four commercial testing systems and 16S rRNA sequencing. Conventional and Enterococcus genus screen biochemical testing, 16S rRNA sequencing and two commercial test systems achieved an accuracy of ≥94% for Enterococcus genus confirmation. Conventional biochemical testing and 16S rRNA sequencing achieved an accuracy of ≥90% for species level identification. Conclusions: For confirmation of Enterococcus genus from mEI media, conventional or genus screen biochemical testing, 16S rRNA sequencing and the four commercial systems were correct 79–100% of the time. For speciation to an accuracy of 90% or better, either conventional biochemical testing or 16S rRNA sequencing is required. Significance and Impact of the Study: Accurate identification of presumptive environmental Enterococcus isolates to genus and species level is an integral part of laboratory quality assurance and further characterization of Enterococcus species from pollution incidents. This investigation determines the ability of six different methods to correctly identify environmental isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on two stories of plays performed at Cambridge University, stories that illustrate the decisive role of the monarch as audience and critic, have been generally unnoticed. William Whiteway, a wealthy merchant, one of the fifteen capital burgesses of Dorchester, and its member of Parliament in 1626, was interested in drama with political significance. Whiteway judged production of two of the most controversial Cambridge University plays worthy of note. Both these plays were political in content, being part satires of lovers,scholars, clergymen, common lawyers, and civic officials.

Melatonin is a strong antioxidant that contributes to circadian rhythm in several mammalian species. Melatonin has been shown to influence uteroplacental hemodynamics in both sheep and cattle. The objective was to examine fetal liver and placental steroid and eicosanoid enzyme activity during maternal melatonin supplementation. Commercial beef heifers (n = 12) were bred via AI and delegated to receive two 24-mg subdermal melatonin implants (MEL; n = 6) or act as part of a nonimplant control group (CON; n = 6). All treatments were applied at d 180, 210, and 240 of gestation, and heifers underwent Caesarian removal of the fetus at 243 ± 2 d of gestation. Placental samples were collected and separated into maternal (caruncle [CAR]) and fetal (cotyledon [COT]) portions. Additionally, the fetal liver was harvested. Cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), 2C (CYP2C), and 3A (CYP3A) and uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities were determined via luminogenic substrates. Activities were expressed per milligram of protein, and data were analyzed, using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, within tissue using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) with treatment, fetal sex, and the interaction thereof in the model. Statistical significance was declared at P = 0.05. Activity of CYP1A in CAR was decreased (P = 0.02) in male vs. female fetuses from CON dams. Activity of CYP1A was not different (P ≥ 0.25) in COT tissues; however, activity of CYP1A in the fetal liver was increased (P = 0.01) in male vs. female fetuses. Activity of CYP2C was observed only in CAR and was not different between treatments (P ≥ 0.59). Activity of CYP3A was observed only in the fetal liver and was not different between treatments (P ≥ 0.41). Activity of UGT in COT was decreased (P = 0.03) in male fetuses from MEL dams vs. female fetuses from MEL dams and male fetuses from CON dams. Activity of UGT was not different (P ≥ 0.34) between treatments in CAR; however, activity of UGT was increased (P = 0.002) in the fetal liver from MEL dams compared with the fetal liver from CON dams. In conclusion, melatonin supplementation did alter hormone metabolizing enzymes in fetal liver and placental tissues of gestating cattle. Moreover, the difference in activity of steroid and eicosanoid metabolizing enzymes in male and female fetuses may indicate a physiological adaptation to decrease excessive exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to determine endometrial blood perfusion and hormone enzyme activity contralateral and ipsilateral to both the corpus luteum (CL) and developing dominant follicle (DF). Fourteen Angus cows were subjected to an Ovsynch + CIDR estrous synchronization protocol with d 0 corresponding to day of estrus. Equine AI rods were passed through the cervices, which provided a canal for the laser Doppler probe (PeriFlux 5000 LDPM, Perimed Inc., Ardmore, PA) to collect endometrial blood perfusion and microvascular flow of tissue surfaces without traumatizing the endometrium. Optimal perfusion was obtained by selecting 10 s of relatively constant perfusion for measurement, as measured by arbitrary Perfusion Units (PU) following calibration. After perfusion was collected, cattle were subjected to an endometrial biopsy utilizing a mare uterine biopsy punch with a sample collected from each horn and snap frozen. Perfusion and uterine biopsies were collected on d 12, 15, 18, and 21 of the estrous cycle. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA of the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC), using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, and significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05. The model statement included day of estrous cycle, CL and DF location (respective to each uterine horn), the respective interactions with day, and CL and DF size with their respective interactions with day as covariants. Cattle were subjected to ultrasonography on d 11 and 19 of the estrous cycle to determine CL and follicular locations and size. Uterine biopsies were homogenized and activity of uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) was determined via luminogenic substrates (expressed per mg of protein). No differences (P ≥ 0.15) in endometrial perfusion were observed based on the location of the CL. However, endometrial perfusion was greater (P < 0.01) on the ipsilateral side to the DF. No differences (P ≥ 0.34) in endometrial perfusion were observed within day. Finally, no differences (P ≥ 0.38) were observed for UGT activity. In conclusion, endometrial perfusion relative to location of the DF were different whereas the CL location did not influence blood perfusion or UGT activity. This alteration in endometrial perfusion could be due to an increase in estrogen due to the presence of the DF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses sixteenth century Master of Revels Sir Thomas Benger, based on accounts of masques recounted in the correspondence written to Sir John Thynne, former Lord Protector of King Edward VI. Benger was appointed to the court of Queen Elizabeth I in 1560 and soon organized the marriage celebrations for William Brooke, Lord Cobham, and Frances Newton, one of Elizabeth's chamberers. In 1567, a Shrove Tuesday masque he oversaw resulted in his imprisonment in the Tower of London, England. Letters written by Richard Young, possibly a clerk of letters patent in 1571, to Thynne are detailed.

Introduction: The rate of implantation of cardiac rhythm management devices continues to rise and therefore the morbidity of revision procedures needs to be substantiated. Revision operations are acknowledged to be higher risk procedures than virgin implants but the evidence directly comparing complications is poor. We contrast the morbidity at 1-year for patients requiring standard device revision procedures, at a single UK centre.Methods: Contemporaneously maintained clinical health records were analysed by a single investigator, for complications and re-operations arising within 1 year after transvenous cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures (primary implant, generator (Bx) replacement, lead only, generator and lead (Bx and lead) replacement, system reburial), performed between April 2008–March 2011. Data was collated on the following complications/ re-operations; (1) radiographic evidence of a pneumothorax, (2) transthoracic echocardiographic evidence of a pericardial effusion and (3) re-operation relating to the CIED system or implant site. Complications and re-operations were analysed as discrete entities, according to the index procedure and mortality censoring adjusting for deaths within the follow-up year.Results: 3,713 procedures were performed. 35% female and 65% male patients. The median age was 72 years (range 15–100). Complications and re-operations are outlined in the table below.The most frequent reason for re-operation varied by index procedure. Lead re-interventions were frequent post primary implant (84; 3.2%) or lead revision (11, 8.0%). Generator manipulation increased reburial (20, 2.5% generator replacement; 7, 6.3% generator and lead) and explant/ extraction procedures (20, 2.5% generator replacement; 13, 17.6% reburial). Infection was the predominant reason for explant/extraction independent of the index procedure (49; 92.5%). Pneumothoraxes required aspiration or intercostal drainage in 0.2% virgin CIED operations, 0.7% lead only procedures and 2.7% generator and lead operations. 2 pericardial effusions were managed with pericardial drainage (1 primary implant, 1 lead only). Admission priority had 1-year survival implications after PPM generator, lead and generator and reburial operations (p < 0.05).Conclusion: There is a 5.0% complication rate within 1-year of a new CIED implant. Routine revision procedures confer escalating complication rates; 6.0%, 16.7%, 22.5% and 31.1% for generator replacement, lead only intervention, combined lead and generator replacement and reburials respectively.Complications and re-operations according to the index procedurePrimary implant n=2,585Bx n=805Lead n=138Bx and lead n=111Reburial n=74Pneumothorax16-15-Pericardial effusion3-12-Re-operation11048211823 Haematoma evacuation20010 Lead re-intervention8481152 System reburial1220778 Explant/extraction12203513Total129 (5.0%)48 (6.0%)23 (16.7%)25 (22.5%)23 (31.1%) [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]